Key-opening can



M 1943- N. J. HAUVSTRU'P KEY-OPENING CAN Filed June 20, 1939 3mm usirupPatented Mar. 9, 1943 KEY-OPENING CAN Niels Johannes Haustmp,Tolderlundsvei, Odcnsc, Denmark; vested in the Alien Property CustodlanApplication June 20, 1989, Serial No. 280,189 In Denmark July 4, 1938 2Claims. (Cl. 220-54) My invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in metallic cans or boxes of the type having a weakenedline at which a portion at least of the can maybe removed by means of akey on which theremovable portion iswound and by which it is torn loosealong the weakened line.

The present invention resides in the provision of a weakened line formedwith a Z-shaped curve to provide two inter-projecting-tongues, one ofwhich may easily be bent inwardly and detached sufliciently to permitinsertion of a specially formed key that also comprises apart of myinvention.

Further, the invention resides in the provision of a pair of spacedgrooves or ridges between which a prong of the key lies when in positionfor opening the can or box and by which the key is kept in place whilestarting the tear and during the rolling up of the cover.

part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention stillfurther resides in the novel details of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully Gil strumenttongue I may first be torn loose and bent v in (see Fig. 7) so that thelonger tang I3 of the key Ill may be inserted under the top part 4between the parallel ridges 8 and 9, while the shorter tong li lies overthe top part 4, as shown in Fig. 2.

After inserting the key, as shown in Fig. 2,

and turning it counter-clockwise, the portion 4 Other objects will inpart be obvious and in-' .of the top I may be torn loose and rolled up,as shown in Fig. 3.

Several forms of keys are shown, all of which, however, have a forkedend constituted by the spaced tangs I2, I3, or I2, I3, and all includinga rod portion III, or III or III and a loop II, II or I l as the casemay be.

All forms also preferably have their tangs bevelcut as at l4, I4' or I4,as the case may be, so

described in the following detailed description,

and then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a can or box em- Fig. 6 is a detail sectionshowing how a key may be used to bend down and detach the tongue I fromthe cover for insertion of a key.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing another form of key andshowing the tongue I detached from the cover.

In the drawing, in which like numbers and letters of reference indicatelike parts in all the figures, I is the top of the box which is seamedat 3 to the body 2 of the box in the usual way. The top I is providedwith a weakened line 5 conforming generally to the outline of the box,and at one comer (preferably) the line 5 assumes a Z-s'haped curve,thereby to provide two tongues 6 and 1 extending in opposite directions,the tongue 6 being part of that portion 4 of the that if desired thesharp edges of tang I3 can be used to pierce the weakened line betweentongue I and the top portion 4 in inserting the key.

The simplest form of key is that shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive.

The key shown in Fig. 6 has a sharpened end I8 to its loop I I and isshaped to permit placing that end under the bead 3, while a-portion II,of the key is bent to form a toe I! to press down on tongue I when thekey is used as a lever with IE as the fulcrum. The key is further bentto form The key of Fig. '1 simply has the toe I5 and its I rod I 0 liesstraight so that its forked end Il -I 3* will serve, by contacting thetop part 4, as a stop.

l. A generally rectangular can having curved corners and having a topprovided with a continuous weakened tear-lineadjacent and following themargin of the can throughout substantially its entire length, a portionof said line which is adjacent one corner of the can being of the.

outline of a curved Z to form two tongues, one of which extends in onedirection and the other of manently attached to the can and the otherbeinl 2' mars es an integral part oi that of the cover which istobetornloose.

2. A generally rectangular can having curved corners and having a topprovided with a continuous weakened tear-line adjacent and following themargin 01' the can throughout substantially its entire length, a portionof said line which is adjacent one corner 0! the can being of theoutline of a curved z to form two tongues, one of which extends in onedirection and the other of which extends in the opposite direction, the

directions in which the tongues extend being (11- agonally across saidcorner, one tongue being permanently attached to the can and the otherbe- NIELS J OHANNES HAUSTRUP.

